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INSTANTLY AWESOME

2008 recruits had an immediate impact on Oregon’s Rose Bowl run

By Rob Moseley

The Register-Guard

Appeared in print: Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, page C1

That five members of Oregon’s 2008 recruiting class started a bowl game only one year later wasn’t unique.

In fact, the 2010 Rose Bowl was the fifth straight postseason game in which the Ducks started at least five players who had been with the team just two seasons. Increasingly over the last decade, the UO football team has signed recruits who are ready to contribute, and to successful teams.

What was striking about the second-year Ducks who started the Rose Bowl was the nature of their contributions. Jeremiah Masoli was the starting quarterback. LaMichael James was Oregon’s leading rusher. John Boyett led the UO defense with 12 tackles.

Throw in guard Carson York and defensive tackle Blake Ferras, and the 2008 recruiting class made its mark on the Rose Bowl starting lineup. And that doesn’t include reserve running backs Kenjon Barner and LeGarrette Blount, who joined with Masoli and James to account for every rushing play for the Ducks against Ohio State.

Former UO coach Mike Bellotti had a rule of thumb that it was possible to get an accurate gauge on the success of a recruiting class after two years. In the case of the group Oregon signed in 2008, much of that potential has already been realized, and there’s the chance of even bigger contributions in the next few seasons.

The group announced on signing day in 2008 didn’t include what is at this point the biggest name from the class. Masoli was an unknown junior-college freshman then, and didn’t join the Ducks until the summer.

Since then, he has started 22 games, earning the team’s newcomer of the year award in 2008 and sharing MVP honors in 2009. Masoli has one more year as the starter, and figures to finish in the top 10 for passing yards and the top five for total offense on the UO career lists.

James, Boyett and York all redshirted in 2008 and immediately became regulars last fall. James set a Pac-10 freshman rushing record, Boyett took over at safety after an injury to T.J. Ward and York started all 13 games at guard.

Barner was a de facto starter, too. He became Oregon’s primary kick returner after Walter Thurmond III was lost for the season and played regularly in two-back sets with James.

The 2008 class, rated No. 19 nationally by Rivals.com and No. 23 by Scout.com, included four JC transfers. Blount ran for 1,000 yards as a backup in 2008 and would have been the regular starter in 2009 but for his actions at Boise State. Ferras started all 13 games as a senior.

The biggest name in that quartet, ironically, was defensive tackle Justin Thompson, who didn’t qualify academically. Long snapper Zach Taylor did make it to Eugene, but poor grades ended his UO career after a season.

Overall, the attrition rate for the 2008 class has been good. Thompson was the only member who never made it to Eugene. Chris Harper, Ellis Krout and Mychal Rivera transferred after one year, Hamani Stevens left for a church mission and Garrett Embry was dismissed from the team last month.

But the rest of the class remains with the Ducks, and most all of them are in line to make significant contributions, if they haven’t already.

Along with Masoli, James, Boyett and York, there are other potential starters from the class of 2008. Darron Thomas is in line to replace Masoli in 2011, and Nick Cody will be a strong candidate to take over one of the offensive tackle spots once 2010 seniors Bo Thran and C.E. Kaiser are gone.

On defense, Kiko Alonso is poised to take over at middle linebacker once Casey Matthews graduates, while Josh Kaddu and Dewitt Stuckey are other linebackers to watch.

Stuckey’s knee injury in 2009 does make his future something of a question mark.

Other wild cards in the class include receiver Blake Cantu, who greyshirted and then redshirted, defensive back Scott Grady and slot receiver Dion Jordan.

They’re about the only unknowns left from the class of 2008. Mostly, it was a group that reached its potential early, making a major mark on the reigning Pac-10 championship team.